# Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 14 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-south-dakota

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in South Dakota

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Finding an affordable college can feel overwhelming, especially when considering all the options available in South Dakota. The schools on this list share a commitment to keeping net prices low while preparing students for rewarding careers. With average earnings of $51,666, these institutions are worth examining closely.

What sets these schools apart is not just their low tuition, but also their outcomes. Factors like graduation rates, average debt, and post-graduate earnings reflect how well these colleges support their students. The schools listed below show a variety of paths students can take, revealing the potential trade-offs between cost and future earnings.

For instance, Western Dakota Technical College has a lower net price of $12,670, but a graduation rate of 54%. In contrast, Mitchell Technical College, while slightly more expensive at $13,460, boasts a much higher graduation rate of 74% and higher average earnings of $50,743. These differences highlight the need for careful consideration of what each institution can offer beyond just the cost.

## Key Findings

- Western Dakota Technical College has a net price of $12,670 and average earnings of $40,240.
- Mitchell Technical College offers a higher graduation rate of 74%, compared to 54% at Western Dakota Technical College.
- Northern State University has an average debt of $22,320, which is significantly higher than the $12,000 debt at Lake Area Technical College.
- The average graduation rate across these schools is 58%, but it ranges from 40% to 74%.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Western Dakota Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-dakota-technical-college) | Rapid City, SD | 54% | $40,240 | $12,670 | $15,000 | 0.37x |
| 2 | [Mitchell Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mitchell-technical-college) | Mitchell, SD | 74% | $50,743 | $13,460 | $12,000 | 0.24x |
| 3 | [Northern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-state-university) | Aberdeen, SD | 51% | $47,618 | $15,812 | $22,320 | 0.47x |
| 4 | [Black Hills State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/black-hills-state-university) | Spearfish, SD | 40% | $46,674 | $15,911 | $26,000 | 0.56x |
| 5 | [Lake Area Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lake-area-technical-college) | Watertown, SD | 69% | $45,473 | $15,979 | $12,000 | 0.26x |
| 6 | [Southeast Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeast-technical-college) | Sioux Falls, SD | 56% | $46,709 | $17,400 | $12,000 | 0.26x |
| 7 | [University of South Dakota](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-dakota) | Vermillion, SD | 61% | $51,926 | $19,858 | $23,592 | 0.45x |
| 8 | [Dakota Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dakota-wesleyan-university) | Mitchell, SD | 47% | $53,728 | $19,735 | $27,000 | 0.5x |
| 9 | [South Dakota State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-dakota-state-university) | Brookings, SD | 61% | $55,070 | $19,841 | $23,250 | 0.42x |
| 10 | [South Dakota School of Mines and Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-dakota-school-of-mines-and-technology) | Rapid City, SD | 56% | $72,257 | $20,183 | $27,000 | 0.37x |
| 11 | [Dakota State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dakota-state-university) | Madison, SD | 50% | $50,970 | $21,057 | $23,500 | 0.46x |
| 12 | [University of Sioux Falls](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-sioux-falls) | Sioux Falls, SD | 62% | $54,521 | $21,383 | $23,249 | 0.43x |
| 13 | [Mount Marty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-marty-university) | Yankton, SD | 56% | $48,179 | $22,227 | $26,396 | 0.55x |
| 14 | [Augustana University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/augustana-university) | Sioux Falls, SD | 74% | $59,217 | $23,894 | $25,000 | 0.42x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in South Dakota." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-south-dakota

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.